Consumers Energy has begun the process of gathering opinions from the public about its 13 hydro projects in Michigan to help guide decisions about the future of those facilities.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission operating licenses for these projects begin to expire in 12 years, said Norm Kapala, vice president of generation operations at Consumers Energy. “We do not want to assume we know how individuals and communities feel about our dams as we develop plans to either continue investing in or remove any of our river hydro facilities,” he said. “Public input will be an important component in our long-term strategic planning.”
The energy provider hired Public Sector Consultants (PSC), a nonpartisan research and consulting firm that specializes in public engagement, to develop an adjacent property owner survey and conduct public meetings near each of Consumers Energy’s dams from August through October this year, with the goal of collecting unbiased feedback.
Consumers Energy makes decisions based on the Triple Bottom Line that ensures benefits for people, the planet and Michigan’s prosperity, according to a release. Factors Consumers Energy considers in determining the future for its dams include regulatory compliance, safety, community impacts, operating costs and environmental impacts.
The 30- to 40-year federal licenses to operate the dams Consumers Energy owns and operates on the Muskegon, Manistee, Grand, Kalamazoo and Au Sable rivers are set to expire from 2034 through 2041. The dams are 8 MW Alcona, 2.55 MW Calkins Bridge, 9 MW Cooke, 8.85 MW Croton, 6 MW Five Channels, 8 MW Foote, 31.5 MW Hardy, 17 MW Hodenpyl, 4 MW Loud, 4.9 MW Mio, 6.8 MW Rogers, 20.1 MW Tippy and 3.225 MW Webber.
Consumers Energy is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million Michigan residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
